Carson, Gertrude ``girlie'' &ndtab

&ndtab

(davis)

February 02, 2004

CARSON, Gertrude ``Girlie'' &NDtab; &NDtab; (Davis)

Gertrude ``Girlie'' (Davis) Carson died Saturday, (January 31, 2004) at the Norway Rehabilitation and Living Center in Norway, ME. Born May 2, 1914 in the Hazardville section of Enfield, a daughter of the late Peter and Catherine Miller Davis, she attended local schools and was a member of the Hazardville United Methodist Church. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching as well as participating in them. She hardly ever missed her grandson's soccer games and also had a special place in her heart for the Yankees. In the early thirties she was a member of the Hazardville RCA Hardball Team. Girlie was a strong runner having emulated Ty Cobb to the extent of stealing second, third and home in one of her games. She was also on the Hazardville Girls Basketball Team when they were Connecticut State Champions in 1935. Her picture is hanging in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Bowling was another sport she excelled in, bowling in many leagues around the state and at Bradley Bowl. She also loved the ponies. With her husband, James McCann, and her brother, Ralph, she performed along the East coast as a professional dancer and ran dancing schools in Windsor and Hazardville. Girlie also held many jobs, as a plater at a former casket company and a salesperson at J.C. Penney and W.T. Grant. She also worked at the former Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., in the tobacco fields and waitressed at the former Hazardvilla. She was witty and loved sharing a good joke with her friends. She made life very interesting for all that knew her. In November of 1952 she married Earl Carson, who died in 1984. She was always available to help her children. Grammie Carson made each of her grandchildren feel very special and was a great influence in their lives. She is survived by her five children, Jill Criscitelli of Enfield, Gayle Smedberg and her husband, Roger of Oxford, ME, Kevin Carson and his wife, Marcie, of East Windsor, Darby Roman of Bristol, and Joel Carson of California; nine grandchildren, Rozell Ward and her husband, Gil, of Chesterville, ME, Roger ``Moose'' Smedberg, Jr., Peter Smedberg and his wife, Beverly, Gemma Goodwin and her husband, Mark, of Branson, MO, Anthony Criscitelli and his companion, Audrey Raymond of Norway, ME, Marc Criscitelli of Southwick, MA, Jason Criscitelli of Enfield and Oxford, Steven and Kevin Carson, both of Enfield; special friends, Ken Criscitelli, Joe Spath, and Mildred Doreski; and a niece, Jocelyn of Indiana. She was predeceased by her brothers, Harold, Earl, Robert ``Babe'', and Ralph Davis. Girlie lived life to the fullest and stories of her escapades will live on. She will be missed but never forgotten. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South Rd., followed by burial in the Hazardville Cemetery. Girlie's family will receive relatives and friends at the Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels on Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. Remembrance donations may be made to the Home for Creative Living, Attn: Kim Enman, 38 Deering St., Norway, ME 04268.